Inside the North Korean military: A look at the rogue nation's armed services

Yahoo News Photo Staff3 September 2017

Tensions between North Korea and the U.S. continued to rise as the North on Sept. 3 claimed its most powerful nuclear test so far — another step in its development of weapons capable of striking anywhere in the U.S. — was a “perfect success.” President Trump said the latest provocation reinforces the danger America faces, and that “talk of appeasement” is pointless. “They only understand one thing!” Trump said in a tweet, without elaborating, as he prepared to meet with his national security team. It was the first nuclear test since Trump took office in January. In August, Trump promised to meet any threat from North Korea with “fire and fury.” The country is pushing hard to upgrade its weapons systems to cope with what it calls U.S. hostility. North Korea is an impoverished yet nuclear-armed country, and weapons experts say it could have a functioning nuclear-tipped missile capable of reaching the continental U.S. within a few years. The country carried out two nuclear tests last year. (AP/Yahoo News)

Here is a look inside the Korean People’s Army and the reclusive nation’s displays of its military forces.

Soldiers goose-step across Kim Il Sung Square in Pyongyang, North Korea, during a parade to celebrate the 105th birth anniversary of Kim Il Sung, the country’s late founder and grandfather of current ruler Kim Jong Un on April 15, 2017. The message of the parade is clear: North Korea is, or is near to being, able to launch a pre-emptive strike against a regional target. It is preparing to withstand a retaliatory follow-up attack if it does, and it is building the arsenal it needs to then launch a second wave of strikes, this time at the U.S. mainland. (Photo: Wong Maye-E/AP)

ICBM missile, Hwasong-14, during its second test-fire

Intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) Hwasong-14 is pictured during its second test-fire in this undated picture provided by KCNA in Pyongyang on July 29, 2017. (Photo: KCNA via Reuters)

North Korean missiles targeting the United States

Chart showing how North Korean missiles are getting closer to targeting the United States. (Reuters)

Kim Jong Un reacts after the test-launch of Hwasong-14

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un reacts with scientists and technicians of the DPRK Academy of Defence Science after the test-launch of the intercontinental ballistic missile Hwasong-14 in this undated photo released by North Korea’s Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) in Pyongyang July, 5, 2017. (Photo: KCNA via Reuters)

The intercontinental ballistic missile Hwasong-14 is seen in this undated photo released by North Korea’s Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) in Pyongyang, July, 4 2017. (Photo: KCNA via Reuters)

Soldiers celebrate the first ICBM test launch

Soldiers gather in Kim Il Sung Square in Pyongyang, North Korea on July 6, 2017, to celebrate the test launch of North Korea’s first intercontinental ballistic missile two days earlier. The North’s ICBM launch, its most successful missile test to date, has stoked security worries in Washington, Seoul and Tokyo as it showed the country could eventually perfect a reliable nuclear missile capable of reaching anywhere in the United States. Analysts say the missile tested Tuesday could reach Alaska if launched at a normal trajectory. (Photo: Jon Chol Jin/AP)

Kim Jong Un observes a military drill

North Korea’s leader Kim Jong Un watches a military drill marking the 85th anniversary of the establishment of the Korean People’s Army (KPA) in this handout photo by North Korea’s Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) made available on April 26, 2017. (Photo: KCNA via Reuters)

North Korean soldiers holding packs with nuclear symbols

North Korean soldiers turn and look towards their leader Kim Jong Un from a military parade vehicle as they carry packs marked with the nuclear symbol during a ceremony marking the 60th anniversary of the Korean War armistice in Pyongyang, North Korea, July 27, 2013. (Wong Maye-E/AP)

Kim Jong Un waves to officers

This undated picture released by North Korea’s Korean Central News Agency on March 7, 2017, shows North Korean leader Kim Jong Un waving to North Korean officers during the launch of four ballistic missiles by Korean People’s Army (KPA) during a military drill at an undisclosed location in North Korea. Nuclear-armed North Korea launched four ballistic missiles on March 6 in another challenge to President Donald Trump, with three landing provocatively close to America’s ally Japan. (AFP photo/KCNA via KNS/Getty Images)

Four missiles being launched

In this image made from video released by KRT on Tuesday, March 7, 2017, North Korea launches four missiles in an undisclosed location North Korea. On Monday, North Korea fired four ballistic missiles in an apparent protest against ongoing U.S.-South Korean military drills that it views as an invasion rehearsal. (KRT via AP Video)

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un stands on conning tower of submarine

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, front, stands on the conning tower of a submarine during his inspection of the Korean People’s Army (KPA) Naval Unit 167 in this undated photo. (KCNA/Reuters)

Celebration of 70th anniversary of founding of ruling Workers’ Party of Korea

North Korean military participate in the celebration of the 70th anniversary of the founding of the ruling Workers’ Party of Korea, in this undated photo. (KCNA/Reuters)

North Korean soldiers run during training

North Korean soldiers run as they attend military training in an undisclosed location in this picture released by the North’s official KCNA news agency in Pyongyang March 11, 2013. (KCNA/Reuters)

Test fire of Pukguksong-2 missile

A North Korean Pukguksong-2 guided missile is test fired in this undated photo. (KCNA/Reuters)

North Korean soldier manning weapon

A North Korean soldier of a unit of the Korean People’s Internal Security Forces takes a position during a live-fire exercise at an undisclosed place in North Korea, in this March 8, 2012 photo distributed March 10, 2012. (Korean Central News Agency via Korea News Service/AP)

A rocket carried by a military vehicle

A rocket is carried by a military vehicle during a military parade to celebrate the centenary of the birth of North Korea’s founder Kim Il Sung in Pyongyang, April 15, 2012. (Bobby Yip/Reuters)

North Korean officers shield themselves from the rain

North Korean officers shield themselves from the rain after the parade celebrating the 70th anniversary of the founding of the ruling Workers’ Party of Korea, in Pyongyang, North Korea, Oct. 10, 2015. (Damir Sagolj/Reuters)

North Korean soldiers firing weapons

North Korean soldiers with weapons attend military training in an undisclosed location in this picture released by the North’s official KCNA news agency in Pyongyang, North Korea, March 11, 2013. (KCNA/Reuters)

North Korean members of the Worker-Peasant Red Guards

North Korean members of the Worker-Peasant Red Guards attend military training in this picture released by the North’s official KCNA news agency in Pyongyang, North Korea, March 13, 2013. (KCNA/Reuters)

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un poses with soldiers

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un poses with soldiers during an inspection of the defense detachment on Ung Islet, which is defending an outpost in the East Sea of Korea, in this undated photo. (KCNA/Reuters)

Live bullet firing demonstration

A live-bullet firing demonstration is held by service personnel from the Korean People’s Army (KPA) at the Sinchon Museum in South Hwanghae Province in this undated photo. (KCNA/Reuters)

Fighter aircraft during flight drill

Airplanes are shown during a flight drill for the inspection of airmen of the Korean People’s Army (KPA) Air and Anti-Air Force in this undated photo. (KCNA/Reuters)

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un sits in airplane

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un sits in an airplane as he guides a flight drill for the inspection of airmen of the Korean People’s Army (KPA) Air and Anti-Air Force in this undated photo. (KCNA/Reuters)

Soldier applaud during a photo session with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un

Soldier-builders of KPA Units 966, 462, 101, 489, who took part in building the workers’ hostel of Kim Jong Suk Pyongyang Textile Mill, applaud during a photo session with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in this undated photo. (KCNA/Reuters)

Missile is fired from naval vessel

A missile is fired from a naval vessel during the test-firing of a new type of anti-ship cruise missile to be equipped at Korean People’s Army (KPA) naval units in this undated photo. (KCNA/Reuters)

Artillery fire and landing exercises

A view of artillery fire and landing exercises guided by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in this undated photo. (KCNA/Reuters)

Ballistic rocket launching drill

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un supervises a ballistic rocket launching drill of Hwasong artillery units of the Strategic Force of the KPA on the spot in this undated photo. (KCNA/Reuters)

70th anniversary of the founding of the ruling Workers’ Party of Korea

North Korean military participate in the celebration of the 70th anniversary of the founding of the ruling Workers’ Party of Korea, Oct. 11, 2015. (KCNA/Reuters)

Korean People’s Army tank crews’ competition

A tank is seen during the Korean People’s Army tank crews’ competition, March 11, 2016. (KCNA/Reuters)

Korean People’s Army tank crews’ competition

Tanks are seen during the Korean People’s Army tank crews’ competition at an unknown location, March 11, 2016. (KCNA/Reuters)

Landing and anti-landing exercises

Landing and anti-landing exercises at an unknown location, March 20, 2016. (KCNA/Reuters)

Landing and anti-landing exercise

Landing and anti-landing exercises carried out by the Korean People’s Army at an unknown location, March 20, 2016. (KCNA/Reuters)

Service personnel visit the statues of former North Korean leaders

Service personnel visit the statues of former North Korean leaders Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il in Pyongyang, April 25, 2015. (KCNA/Reuters)

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un presides over an urgent operation meeting on the Korean People’s Army Strategic Rocket Force’s performance of duty for firepower strike at the Supreme Command in Pyongyang, March 29, 2013. The sign on the left reads, “Strategic force’s plan to hit the mainland of the U.S.” (KCNA/Reuters)

Female North Korean soldiers patrol along the banks of Yalu River

Female North Korean soldiers patrol along the banks of Yalu River, near the North Korean town of Sinuiju, opposite the Chinese border city of Dandong, April 11, 2013. (Jacky Chen/Reuters)

Military personnel paddle a boat over Taedong River

North Korean military personnel paddle a small boat amid morning fog over Taedong River in Pyongyang, Oct. 8, 2015. (Damir Sagolj/Reuters)

A soldier watches a military parade

A soldier watches a military parade which was held at the Kim Il Sung Square as part of celebrations to mark the 70th anniversary of the founding of the ruling Workers’ Party in Pyongyang, North Korea, Saturday, Oct. 10, 2015. (Photo: Wong Maye-E/AP)